Chapter 73 Family Reunion Banquet Shen Qinglu snapped out of her daze and subconsciously looked in that direction…
*
Da Xuan Kong Temple.
Yu Liuzhu walked to the edge of the bamboo grove again, and was stopped as before.
In the past few days, she had tried her best to build a good relationship with the monks in the temple in order to find out about Mu Hanshi, such as when the small courtyard would be inhabited again, but she had not found out anything.
She was filled with regret, repeatedly recalling her past life in the Marquis's mansion.
Their first meeting was after her wedding night when she was paying her respects to her elders. At that time, Mu Hanshi and Mu Wei were sitting on either side of Ning Shi, and she, adhering to etiquette, dared not look at them too much.
But even a single glance was breathtaking.
After being greeted and served tea, she officially became a daughter-in-law of the Mu family. Madam Ning called her to her room and privately instructed her on some family matters, the first of which concerned Mu Hanshi.
"Your Ninth Uncle prefers quiet, so you younger generation should not disturb him unless necessary."
These are Ning's original words.
As a junior, even if she had something to do, it wouldn't be appropriate for her to ignore her proper elders and instead go to her cousin who was only a few years older than her.
Looking back now, she is filled with regret. She secretly thinks that if she had paid more attention before, she wouldn't have only known that the other person would stay at Da Xuan Kong Temple for a few days a month, but not the specific days.
Upon returning to her room, she casually tossed the money pouch from Yu Jingxian onto the table. Yu Qingxue opened it and, seeing it contained silver, hurriedly asked her where it came from.
She gave a brief explanation, sounding quite disdainful.
It was only a little over twenty taels of silver, not even enough for the tips she used to give to her servants.
Yu Qingxue, however, was greedy for money and didn't care about the amount. "You and Dalang have a deep relationship. If you put in more effort with him, you might be able to squeeze a lot of silver out of Shen Linlang."
The more she talked, the more feasible it seemed, her eyes filled with calculation, only to be met with a disdainful look from Yu Liuzhu, who treated her like a fool.
“My elder brother is still studying, has not yet entered officialdom or started a family, how could he possibly handle large sums of money? Right now we have no tribute to pay, and we are running out of money. If we can have money to eat and use every month, that is already a blessing. Don’t think about anything else.”
She quickly agreed, appearing completely subservient to her daughter, saying, "I'll listen to you. When I was pregnant with you, people said you were born with a life of wealth and honor, destined to become a person of high status and enjoy endless riches and glory."
Yu Liuzhu couldn't stand seeing her like this, and the more she looked at her, the more irritated she became.
Such an idiot is actually his own mother!
What kind of destiny is this, born into wealth and nobility, destined to be a noble person? Born into the womb of such a fool, burdened with the title of daughter of a disgraced official from birth, how can she ever become a person of high status?
If one is truly intelligent, whether in a past life or this one, one should do things discreetly and without anyone noticing. What should be eliminated must be eliminated. If one does not eradicate the root of the problem, it will lead to endless troubles and ultimately result in failure. That would be utterly foolish!
"Tang'er, why...why are you looking at me like that?"
"You and Ali look so alike. How could you not be mother and daughter?"
Words alone are not enough; even if public opinion is overwhelming, she will insist on this fact.
Yu Liuzhu made up her mind that no matter what others said, she would never admit to being the daughter of a disgraced official!
“Yes, your grandmother must have remembered wrong.” Yu Qingxue touched her face. “Once my face heals, I will definitely go out and meet more people. I want the world to see that the wicked child looks almost exactly like me. How could he not be my son?”
She was quite pleased with Yu Qingxue's words, thinking that while her so-called mother was indeed a bit foolish, at least she listened to her. Now, given her predicament, aside from a few idiots, she really had no one else she could use.
For example, this biological mother, and that Zhuang Lanyi.
During the day, the temple is bustling with worshippers. But once the temple gates are closed at night, the ancient temple becomes quiet and secluded, as if it were isolated from the world.
Even though it is a royal temple under the emperor's nose, Da Xuan Kong Temple is a place of quiet cultivation, avoiding all the extravagance and waste of the mundane world. No matter what kind of guest you are staying there, the tables, chairs and other furnishings in the guest rooms are all simple and unadorned.
Since moving here, she hasn't had a single good night's sleep. The hard bed makes her feel uncomfortable all over, and whether she sleeps on her back or on her side, it's torture. She tosses and turns until the early hours of the morning before finally falling asleep, only to be woken up early by the temple bell.
Her face was gloomy, and her complexion looked even more sickly due to lack of sleep. She was also suffering from backaches and pains, which had reached the point where she could no longer bear it.
She really didn't want to live like this for even a single day longer!
Suddenly, she seemed to remember something, and after giving some instructions to Qin's mother and Qiu Lu, she told them to hurry up and get to work.
"Tang'er, what is the meaning of your actions? Why are you spreading rumors about Lord Mu's ninth cousin?" Yu Qingxue asked, puzzled.
She naturally wouldn't tell the truth, vaguely saying, "I have my own ideas, you don't need to ask."
Yu Qingxue now followed her lead without question, and upon hearing this, she didn't press the matter further.
Less than two hours later, Qin's mother and Qiu Lu returned one after the other, but not because the matter was settled, but because they brought back other news.
"I don't know who spread the rumor, but wherever I go, I hear people talking about Master Mu. They say the Mu family has a son as beautiful as an orchid, hidden away in the deep mansion, unknown to anyone. He's more beautiful than a white lotus and more skillful than a woman, and he's the best wife and a good wife. I felt something was wrong, so I came to tell you and Madam right away." After Qin Mama finished speaking, her brows furrowed even more tightly.
The coincidence was so striking that she felt a little scared afterward.
"Isn't this going against the grain?" Yu Qingxue subconsciously looked at Yu Liuzhu, even more puzzled. "Tang'er, look at this... should we continue with those messages you had them spread?"
Yu Liuzhu clenched his fist, his expression shifting, before finally saying, "Let's observe the situation first, and then make a plan."
The result of this period of observation was that, in less than half a day, rumors were already flying everywhere.
When they arrived at the Shen residence, Shen Qinglu was learning to ride a horse under the tutelage of Shen Linlang.
Perhaps it was her genes, or perhaps it was her physical condition, but in less than half a day, she was already able to ride a horse around the mansion.
She was on horseback, and because of her high position, she could see further. She saw Xia Chan returning from outside the mansion, and the moment their eyes met, he nodded slightly to her.
When it was time to rest, Shen Linlang told her to take a slow walk first, and then take a hot bath.
Xia Chan approached without leaving a trace and silently followed beside her.
“I took a walk outside and found that a few people were talking about Lord Mu, and some children were even singing it as a song.”
"Mei Wu is indeed quite capable." She took the wet wipe Xia Chan handed her and slowly wiped her hands clean. On her slender, fair hands were red marks left by the reins.
Ren Chun and Han Xiao were very perceptive; whenever she spoke with Xia Chan, no one would come close.
So far, there are some things she only trusts Xia Chan about.
Xia Chan added, "When I was inquiring about the news, I also encountered Qiu Lu."
Qiu Lu was sent by Yu Liuzhu to find out how far the rumors had spread. She originally intended to deliver a letter, but unexpectedly encountered Xia Chan on the way.
"She said that Miss Tang'er also wanted to spread some things about Lord Mu, but it was completely opposite to what we were saying. They wanted to spread the rumor that Lord Mu was a jinx who brought misfortune to his father and mother, and that if this wasn't resolved, it might bring disaster to his family, and he himself would be left alone for the rest of his life. I don't know what they really wanted to do?"
Others might not know Yu Liuzhu's thoughts, but Shen Qinglu could guess them perfectly well.
She smiled slightly and asked Xia Chan in return, "If you saw something you liked in a shop, but no one else was interested in it, and it was expensive and you couldn't afford it, what would you do?"
Xia Chan, not understanding why, honestly replied, "This servant can only give up."
“Some people don’t think that way. They’ll be unwilling to accept it and will try every means to find a way. For example, they’ll find fault with the thing and devalue it to the point that it’s worthless. If they plan it well, they might be able to get what they want at a very low price.”
As Shen Qinglu spoke, her smile faded.
If it didn't concern her, she wouldn't care at all who wanted to take advantage of Mu Hanshi. However, the Mu family and the Shen family had a close relationship, and Shen Kunyao's attitude towards Mu Hanshi was quite unusual. If Yu Liuzhu's scheme succeeded, it wouldn't be a good thing for either the Shen family or her.
"Have Ma Er deliver a message to Mei Wu, telling him to keep an eye on this matter and, if any signs of trouble arise, to find a way to suppress them."
Xia Chan agreed, then brought up another matter.
"I've inquired and found that the shop is an old establishment, having been open for nearly ten years. Many people know that the shop sells good items that occasionally come from the palace."
"Only ten years."
Shen Qinglu murmured.
The timing doesn't match.
Mu Hanshi said that the medicine Yu Qingxue used back then was similar to the secret medicine in the palace. If that shop has only been open for less than ten years, then it has nothing to do with what happened sixteen years ago.
As she was pondering this, she suddenly heard a surprised, laughing voice from not far away, "Who's there?"
At the sound of the question, a person emerged from behind a tree, looking alarmed.
"Dengzhi?"
Dengzhi's face was pale, and she looked panicked. She was quickly brought in front of Shen Qinglu.
Shen Qinglu looked her over. Compared to their first meeting, she seemed like a completely different person, both in terms of complexion and appearance.
"Young lady, I didn't mean it. I just wanted to find something to do and see if there was anything I could do for you?"
She lowered her head, and her voice grew softer and softer as she spoke.
Since she was taken in, she seemed to have been forgotten, with no one assigning her any work. Despite holding the status and title of a first-class maid, she had nowhere to work.
"I had forgotten about you if you hadn't mentioned it." Shen Qinglu looked at her with pity and sympathy as if she remembered her. "There's not much to do in the manor right now, and there really isn't a suitable job for you. How about I talk to my mother and arrange for you to reunite with your parents and brothers?"
She was a servant born into the Shen family; her father, mother, and brothers were all from the Shen family.
“Young lady, my whole family is proud that I can work in the manor. I don’t want to leave. As long as I can stay in the manor, I will do any job.”
"I see." Shen Qinglu feigned regret. "All the positions for first- and second-class maids in the manor are full, only the third-class maids are still available. Would you be willing to take them?"
"I...I do."
Being demoted from a first-class maid to a third-class maid not only meant a change in status, but also a reduction in monthly wages and a change in how others treated her.
She thought that by being willing to suffer, she would surely gain Shen Qinglu's favor, but she failed to see the coldness and sarcasm in Shen Qinglu's eyes.
*
This is the second day.
There are five days left until Mu Hanshi's seven-day deadline.
That evening, someone from the General's Mansion came; it was Granny Xu.
Granny Xu was relaying a message from Gu Ruxu, saying that a family reunion banquet was to be held for Shen Qinglu, and the date was set for the day after tomorrow.
Because the Shen family had just experienced a mishap, the banquet should not be too ostentatious. Only the Shen family's closest in-laws were invited: first, the maternal relatives of Shen Linlang and Shen Kunyao, and second, Gu Ruxu's maternal relatives.
The Shen siblings' maternal family was the Zhao family, a prominent scholarly clan. The Zhao family had been famous since the previous dynasty and flourished more than a hundred years ago, during the time of their great-grandfather, who served as the emperor's tutor.
The Zhao family was large and prosperous, with three maternal uncles alone. By Shen Qinglu's generation, excluding collateral branches and illegitimate children, there were nearly twenty cousins.
The Gu family is equally impressive in this regard. The Duke of England is a founding noble family, and its lineage has grown to a considerable size, attracting many visitors.
The Zhao family's relatives were introduced by Shen Linlang, while the Gu family's side was naturally introduced by Gu Ruxu.
Shen Qinglu followed them, greeting and recognizing each of them.
Fortunately, they had already talked about these people the day before, and most of them matched up. There were two people who left a deep impression on them: Zhao Danxin, the daughter of Zhao's second cousin, and Gu Shizhi, Gu Ruxu's niece.
Zhao Danxin was about the same age as her, and the first thing she said to her was, "Your outfit looks familiar. I thought I was seeing things."
Dressed in red with a golden hairpin, adorned with delicate makeup and pear blossom hair ornaments, she was truly a beauty, her makeup as vibrant as a lotus in bloom. Her smile could make all the flowers in the world pale in comparison. Although she wore the same red dress and floral hair ornaments, her natural beauty was completely different from Yu Liuzhu's temperament.
Even if there were some similarities, given the fact that the children were switched and it happened at the real child's family reunion banquet, most people would avoid discussing it and certainly wouldn't say it in person.
Zhao Danxin's words were either unintentional or deliberate.
Not to mention Shen Linlang, Gu Ruxu, and the others, even her own mother, Madam Li, was momentarily shocked and quickly tried to smooth things over for her, saying, "This child has always been straightforward. How could the previous one compare to Ali? Looking at Ali's appearance and demeanor, she truly is a member of your Shen family."
He then said to Shen Qinglu, "Ali, you and Danxin are about the same age. Danxin is a month younger than you, so she has to call you 'elder sister.' You sisters should get along well and be tolerant of each other in the future."
Shen Qinglu's bright green face showed no displeasure. Upon hearing this, she took a step closer and said, "Sister Danxin, look at me carefully and make sure you see clearly. Don't mistake me for someone else again."
She didn't smile; her face was serious. Her dark eyes, when they looked at someone without moving, gave off a sense of oppression, like the sudden arrival of the polar night, making people inexplicably uncomfortable.
On the day of the Awakening of Insects, Zhao Danxin was one of Yu Liuzhu's guests.
Perhaps Li had said the same thing long ago, which is why the cousins were so close. It could be said that wherever there was Yu Liuzhu, there was Zhao Danxin.
After learning that Yu Liuzhu was not a girl from the Yu family, Zhao Danxin cried bitterly and didn't eat or drink for a day and a night. She couldn't accept the fact that her good friend wasn't the Shen family's niece and rejected Shen Qinglu from the bottom of her heart.
If it weren't for Madam Li's repeated kind words, appealing to her emotions and reasoning with her, and even bringing up the relationship between the Shen and Li families, she wouldn't have wanted to attend this family reunion banquet at all. That's why, upon seeing Shen Qinglu, whose red dress and floral headdress made her feel uncomfortable, she deliberately uttered those words.
Facing Shen Qinglu, she felt a mixture of inexplicable horror and indescribable emotions, as if she were saddened for her friend and indignant at the injustice done to her.
Seeing her lost in thought, Li tugged at her clothes and whispered with a forced smile, "Danxin, your sister Ali is beautiful, but you can't just stare at her like that. Speak up."
She came to her senses and said insincerely, "I understand, I won't admit my mistake again."
Shen Qinglu looked completely innocent, as if she was happy about her promise, and said, "That's good."
Whether it was good or bad, Shen Qinglu didn't really care. However, some people's enthusiasm was truly irresistible, such as Gu Shizhi.
Gu Shizhi is the daughter of Gu Ruxu's younger brother, four years younger than Shen Qinglu. She was born in the same year as Shen Changting, but two and a half months later. Perhaps because her figure had not yet fully developed, she looked slightly round, with a round face as well.
Before Gu Ruxu could even begin to introduce her, Shen Qinglu rushed forward and hugged her tightly, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling as she looked at Shen Qinglu.
"Sister Ali, you're so beautiful. Can I sleep with you tonight?"
Gu Ruxu was both amused and exasperated, and scolded, "This child..."
Shen Changting quickly explained to Shen Qinglu, "Sister, please don't blame her. That's just her personality. She clings to anyone who's good-looking. I remember the last time she did this was three years ago. Luckily, she was young then, otherwise, if people knew she was clinging to the Divine Strategist, they would think she had some ulterior motives."
Hearing Shen Changting's words, Gu Shizhi felt no shame. Instead, she nodded vigorously, "Sister Ali, that Divine Strategist is also very handsome. He is the most handsome man I have ever seen. You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. You are equally beautiful."
"..."
How could she be the same as that Mu Lao Jiu!
But for no reason, the words Mu Hanshi had said, "I think we might be the same kind of people," suddenly popped into her mind, and she felt a mix of emotions.
Are they really the same kind of people?
When Gu Shizhi mentioned Mu Han, people immediately started talking about the rumors in the capital. Everyone, especially those who had seen Mu Han, praised his appearance.
Amidst the lively atmosphere, a servant rushed in to report that someone from the Mu family had come to offer their congratulations.
Given the close relationship between the Shen and Mu families, even for such an unassuming banquet, they would send each other invitations. However, the Shen family had just experienced such an event, and they were even less willing to be implicated by their close friends.
At first, everyone thought that since the host hadn't invited them, the Mu family would at most send someone to deliver a gift and leave. Little did they expect that it wasn't just one person who came, but the whole family.
"I'm an old woman, but I love to join in the fun. I've come uninvited, so you won't be unwelcome, will you?" Ning's voice was loud and clear, and she started to make fun of herself as soon as they met.
Gu Ruxu quickly said that she was the one who had been impolite and there was no reason not to welcome them, and hurriedly invited them to take the seat of honor.
Following them were Mu Wei and Jiang Yingshui, and the younger generation of the Mu family. Shen Qinglu didn't recognize the others, but she knew Mu Lin and Cheng Ying.
After her experience in prison, she and Cheng Ying seemed to have grown much closer.
Cheng Ying looked her up and down and said, "Congratulations."
Mu Lin followed closely behind and also congratulated her.
On this joyous day, seeing Mu Lin's face was like adding flowers to brocade.
In a daze, she seemed to see another person through this face, who, across the distance of time and space, was also happy for her. Happy that she had been reborn and still had family by her side, that thin face, those gentle eyes, and that gaze full of love and care for her.
elder brother……
"Sister Ali, look! That's the Divine Strategist! Isn't he as handsome as you?"
"..."
Shen Qinglu snapped out of her daze and subconsciously looked over there, immediately meeting Mu Hanshi's deep gaze.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
